Opinions of Others

"We learned a lot from another family. We didn't make the decision they did, but knowing what worked for them helped us make our own decisions." ~ Denise

As you gather information and make decisions, you will meet people who have strong opinions. Some of these opinions might come from well-meaning relatives, friends, other parents, professionals, deaf and hard-of-hearing adults, or even the media. These opinions may seem to favor the choices you have made for your child. Or these people might offer opinions about communication strategies that you may wish to consider for your child. However, these opinions may go against your decisions about services and programs that you have chosen.

Many parents question their own decisions when this happens. You are making the choices for your own child and family. Others’ opinions may be a good way to gather information about different services and programs, but please remember that your decisions about your child’s future are the ones that matter.